Disclaimer: Still own neither Type-Moon nor Blazblue.

It had been a risk to approach Kotomine Kirei in that situation, considering that Saber was so close and there was no way to tell when she would have recovered from using her Noble Phantasm.

But she had wanted to see what he had meant by proving to her that he had no interest in the Holy Grail.
She still didn't know what that proof really was, but it didn't matter. There was no way he could have deceived her eyes while in that mental state and the man that she had seen didn't have any desire for the Holy Grail.
Their discussion had been cut short, but she would have to seek him out again to see the conclusion he reached, before the war came to an end.

To be honest, she wasn't sure she completely believed what she had told him. It was definitely odd to consider someone who enjoyed the suffering of others a good man.
But on the other hand, she would never forgive herself if she simply let a man who had tried his hardest to be good fail simply because of the way he had been born. Her own way of living wouldn't allow that.

But for now, she had to return to Kiritsugu. Her Master would probably be worried if she waited too long.
Well, probably more suspicious than anything else, considering the man in question. And she couldn't even claim that it would be unfair anymore.

But as she had been about to revert to spirit form, a chill ran down her spine.

Something wrong was nearby. A threat of a completely different nature from a Servant.

"Well, now." A kind elderly voice came from a nearby shadow. "That was quite a mean thing you did to that young man."

Considering that she had met, or at least seen, everyone involved in the Holy Grail War, Archer was surprised to find that the speaker was a complete stranger. Short, his hunched back supported by a cane in his right hand and standing only partially out of the shadows that he had been hiding in, the old man was more or less the most suspicious person she had seen since her summoning.
Even excluding everything else, the simple fact that she was on a rooftop would have told her that he wasn't a normal person.

"Humph." The source of her wariness spoke again. "Are people so impolite these days that you won't even acknowledge an old man?"

The most disconcerting thing was that his annoyance sounded genuine, the perfect image of the grumpy old man. Surely there was no one that could say something like that seriously?

Well even if he was dangerous, she had no reason to be rude to him.

"I'm sorry, you took me by surprise. But I don't see what you're talking about."

Her voice had risen, but that couldn't be helped. He was the one being rude by throwing accusation at someone he'd never met.

"I see, I see." A dry chuckle comes from his lips. "This is my fault for not being clear enough. I was referring to what you did to that poor young man back there. He would lead a much happier life if you let him reach his own conclusion."

Then he had been watching their dicussion? Strange…
Certainly, Kirei hadn't been in a very observant state of mind, but she should have noticed it if someone was close enough to listen.

"Who are you?"

The thing that looked like an old man showed a twisted smile.

"I must be forgetting my manners." How could he sound honestly sorry? Was he that good an actor? "I am Matou Zouken."

Matou…Matou…she had heard that name somewhere.

From Kiritsugu, of course. They were one of the three "families of the beginning" that had created the Holy Grail.

Then…

"You're involved in the war?"

Matou Zouken held up his free hand defensively.

"No, no. Once upon a time, perhaps, but I am retired these days." He gestured toward the beach. "In fact, you have just witnessed the end of this generation's effort. Sad, wasn't it?"

There was something unnerving about the fact that his smile never faltered.

Lifting his cane, he tapped the ground next to his feet.

"But do not attempt to distract me, young lady. We were talking about what you did to that poor man."

Even though she doesn't want to talk about it, something tells her that it would be dangerous to simply ignore him.
Beside, gaining victory will be difficult enough without making more enemies. Since he doesn't seem to have any intentions of getting involved, so there shouldn't be a problem.

"I wanted him to make his own choice, without being forced into it. What he decides to do when facing an alternative is up to him."

Well, she would stop him if he fell back into the answer he was about to reach before her intervention. Sympathizing with his situation and accepting his choice are two different things, after all.
But there's very little risk of that, because Kotomine Kirei has already spent most of his life fleeing that conclusion.
The old man must also be aware of this to an extent, because he ignores the possibility entirely.

"Humph. 'His own choice'? What a farce. A man cannot change the way he is born. Someone like him, who is defective in such a way, cannot live a virtuous life. By feeding into his delusion, you have condemned him to yet more years of torment seeking an answer that he cannot recognize."

For some reason, she cannot help but think that Matou Zouken is somewhat bothered by the possibility that he is wrong in this. But why would someone who, as far as she knows, has no link to Kotomine Kirei be invested in his future?

"I disagree. It might be true that he's different from humans, but that doesn't make him defective. I'm sure he can find a way to live happily without acting against his wishes."

The old man's eyes narrow at her words. It is strange, but she somehow feels pressured by the white orbs, as if they carried a heavy weight.

After a few seconds of thinking on her answer, he bows his head.

"Kakaka." It is a laugh without mirth or emotion, little more than a clattering of teeth. "That is the folly of youth, I suppose. Both of you will find out that you are mistaken, in time."

Slowly, he begins to back away.

"Well, I suppose in your case you'll be gone by then. It must be a great joy, to be a temporary existence that won't have to see the consequences of your actions."

There seems to be something more behind those cruel words, but she cannot grasp it. Just like his departing shadow, it is wrapped in the image of an ordinary old man.
The conclusion might be a bit hasty, but she thinks that Matou Zouken is someone that she wouldn't be able to understand regardless of what happens in the future.

While some part of her feels like pursuing him and demanding answers, she has better things to do than dwell on the words of yet another meddling manipulator. Kiritsugu is still waiting for her and if she wants to end the battle quickly, she can't afford to waste more time by making him worry.

In order to ensure that there are no further distractions, she shifts into spirit form and leaves for the rendez-vouz point.